Monday, April 6, 2009

Blue Monday - Tagging Trains

1. Post about something blue on your blog. It can be pretty, ugly, funny, old, or new as long as it's blue. Leave a link to this blog on your post.

2. Place the Blue Monday button on the top of your post so that people can easily spot it. Place another Blue Monday button on the sidebar of your blog.

3. Return here and link in with Mr. Linky by leaving your name and the Permalink to your post. To create a Permalink, click on your Blue Monday post title and copy all the stuff in the http window. It is a longer address so that people can find your post even later in the week--whenever they get a chance to visit. For those who just can't wait, Mr. Linky will be up after midnight!Do NOT link in until after your post is up.

4. Visit other Blue participants by clicking on their links. Make someone's day; leave a comment. I appreciate those who leave a comment for me.5. Check back later to make certain you visit all the Blue Monday participants. (That's why the Permalink is so important.)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Johnny and I were out and about, and a train chugged down the tracks. I was shocked to see that several of the cars had been tagged! Now, I love blue, but this is blue abuse.

These are examples I copied from the internet. None of them were of the train we spotted. However, a tag is a tag. Some people think this is art. I say it's defacing private property. What are your thoughts?

Hi Sally.. Yes, In a way..I think it's a way of art expression, however,there are other ways to express yourself than at others expense.Graffiti is graffiti and I don't want it on my car.Happy Blue Monday, hope it's a great day.

Wow ,Blue Monday for whoever has to do the cleanup. Maybe there should be a contest for the best graffiti remover solution .Not to take away from freedom of expression but isn't this on private property, Or perhaps the artist thought it was public prperty ?Happy Blue Monday everyone.

This is my first time visiting your blog because I wanted to see what Blue Monday was all about. I am glad I did. By the way, I love your photos of the train cars...too bad those talented artists can't find a place of their own to display their work instead of public property.

It's not art - just fancy lettering on a large scale. But it is an interesting example of how society interfaces with its surroundings.

We see less interesting graffiti on the sides of barns and on bridges here in Western New England.

There is an English artist by the name of Banksy whose real identity is not known. He creates some really interesting artwork on private property. Some see it as art, others as defacing property. Either way, his work is fascinating, clever and fun to look at. Unlike the run-of-the-mill graffiti you typically see.

I'm new to Blue Monday so I wanted to thank you for hosting! I love your background! I do agree that there's a place for art....and this is not it! I'm an artist too so I do not believe it should be expressed in this manner. Lu

Hello Sally, Happy Blue Monday! Yes I agree this is defacing private property. Looks like it might have taken some time to do. I wonder how they got away with it.Have a great week and a Blessed Holy week!Shirl Shirls Rose Cottage

I don't care if someone recreates the Mona Lisa...if it isn't their property or done with permission, it isn't right.

I don't have a Blue Monday post ready today and I am about to leave the house without time to come up with something. Perhaps the grays skies and snowy slush that accumulated overnight which makes us feel blue here in MI would qualify. ;)

Sally...I agree with YOU! It may be ART but it is still wrong! I know in our community the defacement of property like this causes great expense to the taxpayers! In downtown Joliet there are beautiful Murals with hours and hours of work by true artists that have been defaced by gang graphics! I find it shameful that those that may have the talent and can create these graphics can not put their "talent" to better use! I say that perhaps if caught defacing personal or public property there should be stronger penalties! Happy Blue Monday!

The first one is really cool looking but it is a shame that the "artist's" talents are not channeled in the right direction. Kids with talent like that could and should be putting it to good use instead of defacing private property. I'd rather see the trains clean and the art elsewhere.

I agree with you, Sally... It is defacing private property... NOW--if the 'owners' give permission to add graffiti--then that's okay. I like to see old buildings fixed up with graffiti (or art--as they call it).. That is done with permission and is very different.

Let's hope for no damage here the next couple of days due to the upcoming freeze.Hugs,Betsy

Just this weekend, my daughter, home from college, on spring break, mentioned as we drove by our town how much she loves seeing the graffiti . I have mixed feelings about it. Having lived in Manhattan, some of the graffiti was real artwork...the gang stuff gives me the chills though. I came to appreciate it when I was introduced to Keith Harings work in the the 70's. Great Blue Monday post.♥, Susan

We have a little pub that invited local artists to do a mural on a wall that faces an alley.. That is different than what was done to those trains.You can be sure on your tax dollars will be used to clean it off...so to me it is not art but defacing public property.I am new to Blue Monday...I love blue though..

I agree - defacing public property for sure. Someplace I read there was a place built for taggers to put up their artwork, and it saved the other places from defacement.Thanks for posting Blue Monday. Blues are so beautiful and it's amazing how many wondrous blues there are!

Can't say much more than what's already been said, but I'll give you my educator perspective...

Where was a classroom teacher or art teacher when this kid was doodling all over his notebooks...b/c ya know he was! (Probably defacing school desks too!) When still teaching, I was always on the lookout for these kinds of kiddos...the ones where art and creativity didn't mesh with a typical day in the public school classroom!

Too bad their talent and creativity isn't gracing the walls of a private art gallery instead of defacing public property!

We once went to see some ancient rock carvings from early Nevada Indians and I pondered was this considered graffiti in that day. The artistic quality of them is awesome but I am "The Obedient Daughter" at heart and it not their property so it is a no no.

I think it is art, but not all art is legal. I like to look at it when trains go by in our neck of the woods. I’m not sure how I would feel though if I bought a brand new train and someone defaced it right away…good post! Happy Blue Monday!

If it's vandalism, it's not art. It costs thousands of dollars to clean this off of just one car and that cost is passed on to the passengers and the freight customers (you and me). The rail industry is already hurting and has been since way before our latest economic woes. This just makes me sad.

Artistic vandalism, based on gang territorialism. And vast amounts of it are created by adults, not kids. Life in "that other America," fighting for survival in neighborhoods that few of us ever venture into, or begin to understand.

Yes, the costs of cleanup are passed on to us, IF it's cleaned up at all. Tag and graffiti removal rarely becomes a priority until neighborhood incomes rise above the subsistence level. Wealthier neighborhoods aren't the provenance of taggers ... you're more likely to see spray-painted obscenities (written by the middle class kids who live there) than actual tagging.

Tagging IS art -- territorial gang-related art -- and tagging trains is a relatively safe way to get your name/gang/tag out into the world beyond your own neighborhood.

Do I condone it? No. Do I understand it? Yeah, I do. I've worked with these kids, taught them and counseled them and tried to help them create better lives for themselves and their families. And I do see the art in it, which is one heck of a lot more than I can say for Rap music ... aaargh!

Hey Sally...I see these all the time down here..I hate to see the old railcars painted up like that...the old trains are such a part of our history.

Happy Blue Monday girl...not that I'm a blue person but I just wanted to wish you a Blue Monday seeings as how you kinda like blue and all..that's all I'm saying...just wanted to be kind to a friend and all...seeing as how you love blue..not that there is anything wrong with that mind you....huh...why did you open the door like that Sally...ohhhh I see...don't want me to wear out my welcome...how sweet of you! lol lol

Translate

My Book Review Blog

I'm an independent book reviewer and would be happy to review your book(s)!

About Me

I married when I just turned seventeen, and I've been happily married for five decades! I'm a retired high school teacher, with two grown children, seven grandchildren, and one great grandson. I'm a Christian, and I love to read--particularly Christian Fiction.